Manufacture of copper strips or bars



Sept. 21 1926.

C. K. TOPPING MANUFACTURE OF COPPER STRIPS 0R BARS Filed May 29, 1925ATTORNEYS produced by electro ing form and is continuously strippedfroml Patented Sept.I 21, 1926.

UNITED 'STATES 1,600,257 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES K. TOPPING, OF NEWBUBGH, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO CHILE EXPLORA-.TION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F NEW JERSEY.

MANUFACTUBE OF COPPER STRIPS OR BARS.

VApplication illed Hay '29? 1925. lSerial No. 33,661.

manufacture of metallic articles resulting from thev practice of theimproved metho of the invention.

In accordance with the invention, metallic (and more particularlycopper) plates, sheets, strips, bars, or the like, are produced by theelectrodeposition of the metal, such as copper, upon an appropriatemetallic starting blank. The metallic starting blank is also preferablymade of, electrodeposited metal. The invention thus contemplates theelectrodeposition of a thinlayer of metal, such as copper, upon anappropriateform. The thin layer of electrodeposited metal is thenstripped from the form and'progressively passed throughan-electrodeposlting apparatus. While passing through theelectrodepositing apparatus, the starting' blank or initial layer ofelectrodeposited metal is built up to the desired thickness byelectrodeposition, and ,the resulting plate of electrodeposited metal isprogressively with-` drawn from the electrodepositing apparatus.

The improved method of the invention thus comprises two steps, in thefirst of which a starting blank is produced, preferably byelectrodeposition, and in the second` step of which the starting blankis built up of electrodeposited metal to a desiredfthickness. In thepreferred practice of the invention, the starting blank is continuouslyeposition upon a rotatthe form and wound on a spool, or otherwise,appropriately disposed of. In this manner, an electrodeposited vstartingblank of aniyl appropriate width and of any desired lengt may beadvantageously produced. The startin blank is then rogressively passedthrou an electrodeposlting apparatus durino' w ich passageelectrodeposition of metal takes place until `a suiiicient thickness ofelectrodepo'sited metal has been obtained. The progress of the startingblank through the electrodepositing apparatus is so regulated that thisdesired thickness of' electrodeposited metal is obtained during the timeany portion of the starting blank is passin v between the entrance andexit ends ofl the electrodepositing apparatus.

The invention is particularly applicable for making bus-bar copper, thatis, the bars or laminas for building up copper bus-bars for conductingelectric current of relatively high amperage. Heretofore, it has beencustomary to make the copper bars or laminae for bus bars by rolling.The rolling operation is relatively expensive and necessitates theprovision of a copper rolling mill. Bus bars or laminae ofelectrodeposited copper can be economically and advantageouslymanufactured in accordance with the present invention. Moreover theelectrical conductivity of the electrodeposited metal is,`

in most cases, higher than that of the rolled metal. v

' The novel features of the invention and my present preferred mode ofpracticing the invention will be best understood'froml the followingdescriptionl taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawin s. I

will hereinafter particularly describe t e in' vention as applied to themanufacture of copper plates, sheets, strips', bars, or the like, but itis to be understood that the principles of the invention are applicableto the production of articles of this general character made of metalsother than copper.

In the accompanyin drawings, Fig. lis a sectional end elevation, andFig. 2 is a sectional figont elevation of an a aratus for forming astarting blank, and ig. 3 is a sectional elevation 'ofanelectrodepositing apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned secondstep of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there isdiagrammatically illustrated an electrolytic tank 5 of wood, concrete orother appropriate material. The tank has a substantiallysemi-cylindrical lining 6 of lead, or other appropriate materialresistant to the action of the .acid electrolyte. Where the lining 6 isof lead.

itmay serve as the anode and is electrically i connected to the positiveterminal rof an appropriate source of direct current energy. The tank isprovided with an inlet pi e 7 for introducing freshl electrolyte an anoveriiow or outlet pipe 8 for withdrawing electrolyte from the tank. Aperforated pipe 9 is provided near or on the bottom of-the tank throughwhich air or other appropriate gas may be introduced into theelectrolyte for the purpose of agitation.

.A cylindrical form is rotatably mounted Within the tank 5. This form isbuilt up of a pluralityof metallic rings 10 spaced apart by relatively-thin disks 11 of insulating material. The 'rings 10 and disks 11 areclamped or otherwise appropriately secured together on a metallic shaft12 Journaled 1n the ends of the tank 5. The end rings 10 are coveredwith disks of insulating material 11. The rings 10 may conveniently bemade of copper and have a smooth or polished cylindrical surface. Thiscylindrical surface is preliminarily treated with some appropriatedopef7 such as rack grease, salammoniac and mercury, for preparlng thesurface for the electrodeposition of copper thereon and the strippingofthe electrodeposited copper therefrom.

A\pulley 13 is secured to the shaft 12 and' is connected to anyappropriate source. of power for slowly rotating the cylindrlcal form(1O--11).` 'In practice, this form makes approximately one completerevolution in 24 hours, although it is to be understood that the formmay be rotated at a different rate, depending upon the particularconditions of electrodeposition existing o r desired.

A slip ring 14 is secured to the shaft 12'. A stationary brush 15contacts with the slip ring 14 and is electrically connected to thenegative terminal of the source of direct current energy employed forthe electrodepositing operation. Thus, the rings 10 are electric-allyconnected together and to the` brush 15 and constitute the cathode ofthe electrolytic apparatus. l

The lower half o f the cylindrical form 10-11 is submerged in anappropriate cops per electrolyte in the tank 5. This electrolyte mayconveniently be of the following composition:

35 grams of copper per liter 100 grams sulfuric acid per liter 0.03grams of chlorine per liter.

Mounted above the tank 5 are a plurality of rotatable spools 16 uponwhich arewound the electrod'eposi-ted starting blanks stripped from theform 1'0-11. In the operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1and 2 o f the drawings, the copper "electrolyte is passed throughthetank 5 and is appropriately agitated while in the tank in order toprovide an electrolyte of substantially uniform composition. Copper iscontinuously electrodeposited upon that portion of the rotatingcylindrical form which is submerged in the electrolyte. In the appartusillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, live separate strips of copper aresimultaneously electrowithdrawn deposited. As the rotation of thecylindrical form, in the direction of the arrows in Figs 1 and 2,carries the thin layer of electrodeposited copper out of theelectrolyte, the ele^trodeposited copperv is stripped from the formandwound on the spools 16. This stripping of the electrodeposlted copperfrom the form and winding on the spools may be done manually andfromtime to time as necessary. In this manner, there is continuouslyformed strips, sheets, or the like, of appropriate thickness, sayone-thirty-second of an inch, andof any desired length, which serve asstarting blanks in the second step of the improved method of theinvention.

The electro-depositing apparatus of Fig. 3 comprises a long tank. 17 ofwood, concrete or' other appropriate material. This tank is lined withlead, mastic, or the like, to resist the corrosive action of the acidelectrolyte. The electrolyte is continuously supplied near the bottom ofthe tank and through an inlet pipe 18 and continuously overflows throughan outlet pipe 19. Oneor more perforated a 'tating pipes 20, adapted tobe supplied wit compressed air, are provided near the bottom of the tank17.

.The spools of starting blanks 21 (initially formed and wound. u on thespools 16 as hereinbefore described) are appropriately mounted` forrogressive and continuous passage throug the' copper electrolyte in thetank 17. To this end, the starting blanks pass over guide rolls 22 andenter one end of the tank 17 A liquid seal 23 is-provided in the end ofthe tank 17 for each starting blank, so that the blanks may freely passthrough the end of the tank while the escape of electrolyte from thetank is substantially inhibited.

Within the tank 17 the starting blanks are arranged in superposedhorizontal planes. Each starting blank passes between two horizontallydisposed lead anode plates 24. The lead anode connectedtogether and tothe positive terminal of an appropriate lsource of direct currentenergy, as diagrammatically indicated by reference. character 25 in Fig.3, The copper starting blanks are similarly electrically connectedtogether and to the negative terminal of the source of direct currentenergy employed for the electrodepositing operation, as diagrammaticallyin-` dicated by reference character 26 in Fig. 3.

The `finished plates of electrodeposited copper are progressively andcontinuously through the exit end of the tank 17. To this end, thesuperposed plates of electrodeposited copper pass vthrough liquid seals27 in the end of the tank 17 and. are clamped to a yoke 28. The yoke 28is connected in any appropirate manner, as, for example, by a block andtackle 29, to an appropriate source of power (not shown) for plates areelectrically lated so that a depositfof the desired thickness isobtained by the time the blank reaches the exitend of the tank. Thecopper electrolyte is preferably of the same composition as hereinbeforedescribed. v

When the spools of starting blanks 21 have been completely `unwound, afresh spool may be j'oined thereto by riveting, crimping, welding,bra'zing, or in any other 'approriate manner. Similarly, when a desiredength of finished copper plate onsheet has been discharged through theexit end of the tank, the plates or sheets may be cut and the yoke againfastened tothe plates or sheetsprojecting through the exit end ofthetank.

In this nanner theoperation of building up the copper plates or sheetsis substantially continuous, and plates or sheets of any desired lengthmay be produced.

In makin bus-bar copper, the rings 10, of the formlng cylinder, vmayconveniently be ten inches in width and fifty inches in diameter.Approximately 100 feet of starting blank may be Wound on the. spools 16.The tank 1 7 may conveniently be about 100 feet long, 16 inches high and20 inches Wide. The plates or sheets withdrawn from the tank 17 may beone-fourth inch, or more, as desired, in thickness. Preferably, 4thesewithdrawn plates or sheets are cui'l in lengths of about 100 feet. Theseparticular dimensions are given'merely as illustrative of the inventionand are in no sense to be regarded as restrictive.

In the appended claims I'have used the term plate to designate aplate-like article, and `intend to include therein sheets, strips, barsland the like.

1. The method of manufacturing metallic kplates or the like whichcomprises forming a metallic starting blank, and progressively passingsaid starting blank through an electrodepositin'g apparatus in thecourse of which there is built up on said blank an electrodepositl ofmetal of a desired thickness.

2. The method of manufacturing metallic plates or the like whichcomprises electrodepositing a thin layer of. metal upon an appropriateform, stripping the layer of electrodeposited metal from said form andthereby producing av metallic starting blank, and progressively passingsaid starting blank through an electrodepositing apparatus in the courseof which there is built up on said blank/an electrodeposit ofmetal-'ofi' .a desired thickness..

3, The method of manufacturing copper plates or the like which comprisesforming a` metallic starting blank, and progressively '-70 passing saidstarting blank through a copper electrodepositing apparatus in thecourse of which there is built up on said blank an ele'ctrodeposit ofcopper of a'de- 7 sired thickness. i V l 4. The method .of manufacturingcopper plates or the-like which comprises'electrodepositing a thin layerof copper upon an appropirate form, stripping the resulting lay/er ofelectrodeposited copper from said form and thereby producing a copperstarting blank, and progressively passing said starting (blank through acopper electrodepositing apparatus in the courseV of which there isbuilt up on' said blank an electrodeposit of copper of a desiredthickness.

- 5. The method of manufacturing copper plates or the like whichcomprises electro-AV depositing a thin layer of cop r upon anappropriate form, stripping t e resulting layer of electrodepositedcopper from sai form and thereby producing a copperl starting blank,progressively passing said starting blank through an electrodepositingapparatus and 4electrodepositing copper thereon to a desired thickness,and progressively withdrawing the resulting plate offelectrodepositedcopper from said-apparatus.

6. 'The method of manufacturing copper plates or the like whichcomprises electrodepositing a thin layer of copper upon an appropriaterotating form, continuously stripping the resulting la er(y ofelectrodeposited copper from saidy orm as the vform rotates and therebyproducing a copper starting blank of any desired length, andprogressively passing said starting blank through a. copperelectrodepositing ap-. paratus in the course of which there isfbuiltupon said blank an electrodeposit of copper of a desired thickness.y l7. The method of manufacturing copper plates or the like which compriseselectro-4 depositing a thin layer of copper upon an appropriate rotatingform, j continuously stripping the resulting layer of electrodepositedcopper from rsaid formas the form rotates and y thereby producing acopper starting blank of any desired lengt-h, progressively passi-ngsaid starting blank through an electrodeposifting apparatus andelectrodepositing copper thereon to a desired thickness, andprogressively withdrawing the resulting plate of electrodeposited copperfrom said apparatus.

8. The method of manufacturing copper plates or the like which compriseselectrodepositing a thin layer of copper upon an appropriate rotatingcylindrical form partially submerged in a' copper electrolyte,continuously stripping the resulting 'layer of electrodeposited copperfrom said form as and When the rotation of the form carries theelectrodeposited copper out ofthe elec- 5 trolyte and thereby producinga copper starting blank' of any desired length, progressively passingsaid starting blank through a copper electrolyte and electrodepositingcopper thereon to a desired thickness, and progressively withdrawing theresulting plate of electrodeposited copperv from said apparatus.

CHAs. K. ToPPiNG.

